Amberkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Snow crunched underfoot as she walked, and Wolfblossom resisted the urge to roll onto her back, or make another snowball to throw at one of her unsuspecting clanmates. When the snow had freshly fallen, fourtrees had looked almost pristine, but with cats up and about for the days, the white stuff was a messy blend of different pawprints tracking around the hollow. They were still no closer to being able to go home, but, for all the frustration, Skyclan was growing, and there was another kit that would become an apprentice today. Making her way to the base of the great rock, Wolfblossom called out to the clan. "Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather beneath the great rock for a clan meeting!"

The call rang out above the snow, and, reluctantly, Dawnfeather padded over, flicking her tail. Once upon a time, she would’ve sought to sit beside Olive and Dandelion and Smokema and Beechaunt… sorrow gnawed away at her heart, but the deputy’s upbeat tone reminded her of happier times. The golden she-cat cleared out a small space for herself amidst the snow, wondering what lucky kit was becoming an apprentice today.

Amberkit stepped out into the clearing, waiting to listen in to the ceremonies. Usually, the deputy didn't speak on the Great Rock, and the only times she remembered seeing her on there was when kits were made apprentices. That gave her a little hope. Maybe her presence on the rock today meant that she would be the kit who would be made an apprentice. At the same time, how many kits were there in the nursery? And there were probably other times the deputy took the Great Rock, even if she didn't see them yet. There was so much she still didn't know.

It wasn't long before cats had gathered, it seemed that Skyclan was more used to the routine by now than she was. She waited for a few moments, bright blue gaze eventually finding the kit she was searchign for among the crowd.

"Amberkit, step forward," She mewed, pausing to allow the kit to do so, "You have reached the age of six moons, and so it is time for you to become an apprentice. From today onward you shall be known as Amberpaw, and your mentor will be Ravenclaw." She mewed, nodding at the dark-furred she-cat who had been her own mentor. "She's one of Skyclan's most experienced, skilled warriors, and I trust that she will pass on everything she knows to you." With that, the ceremony concluded, and Wolfblossom would let the new mentor and apprentice pair greet each other.

Ravenclaw was surprised to hear her own name as she idled around the back of the gathered cats. She had become a bitter, older member of SkyClan's warriors, burned down low from the losses of everyone she held dear. She was being summoned by the deputy, though, and she wasn't going to ignore the call from one of her former apprentices. She padded up to the front, leaning down to touch noses with Amberpaw. "I will teach you everything I have left," she promised, despite the chill deep within her heart. She still loved her clan, after all. At least Briarstar was gone.

Oh. So it was an apprentice ceremony. Dawnfeather nodded to the newly named Amberpaw, purring her congratulations. The name that really caught her attention, though, was Ravenclaw’s- had often had she spoken to her aunt? The last one- no, no, Beechaunt was still around. But. They were family, weren’t they, and so Dawnfeather strove to catch Ravenclaw’s eyes and give her a reassuring smile. They would have to hang out sometime.